Birdie blitz gives Jazz Queen’s Cup
Local young gun Jazz Janewattananond powered five straight birdies on the back nine to beat eight-time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar of India for his second Tour victory during the final round of the US$300,000 Queen’s Cup on Sunday.
Jazz and Bhullar, along with another Thai hope Pavit Tangkamolprasert, were engaged in a see-saw battle but a brilliant chip-in birdie on the 10th hole followed by four successive birdies took Jazz ahead of the two rivals, as he signed off with a 67 for 19 under-par-265 at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.
“At the front nine, I was a bit shaky and made a bogey early. But I handled the situation well after that. The momentum changed when I chipped in on the 10th and from then on my game was back again,” said the 22-year-old from Hua Hin whose maiden Tour win was in the 2017 Bangladesh Open.
“It was a tough round, not many people played well. I’m happy to come out on top,” added Jazz, officially known as Atiwit, who earned US$54,000 prize money for his win.
“This must be my most favourite tournament on the Tour. I have always played this tournament ever since I turned professional [in 2010]. Last year, I missed a chance for a play-off. So this is like a redemption for me,” added Jazz, who is the fifth Thai to hold the trophy after Chinnarat Phadungsil in 2009, Chawalit Plaphol in 2011, Thaworn Wiratchant in 2012 and 2014 and Prayad Marksang in 2013 and 2015.
His win meant the royal trophies have been won by Thais this year after Panuphol Pittayarat lifted the Thailand Open trophy (of King Rama IX) last month.
Gaganjeet Bhullar
Bhullar, 30, was struggling with his inconsistent form but a finishing birdie saw him settle with an even-par-71 and a total 15 under-par-269 for lone second.
“It was the toughest day of the week. I didn’t start well by making easy mistakes but I still finished strong by saving two pars and ended with a birdie,” said the Indian whose last win was in Macau last October.
Pavit, after a solid front nine, missed the fairways and several putts that saw him finish with a 71 on 270 to tie for third with American-Korean Kim Sihwan (70).
Pavit Tangkamolprasert
"I struggled with my game today. I tried my best but my driving was pretty bad today. I missed a lot of fairways. I just couldn’t get the ball in the right positions to give myself a chance to attack the pins," the 29-year-old Pavit said.
Thailand will hold the last and third home Asian Tour event, the Royal Cup (trophy granted by HM King Rama X), which will take place at the end of this month, also at the Phoenix Gold.
Scores after round 4 of the Queen's Cup presented by Bangchak being played at the par 71, 6951 Yards Phoenix GC course (am - denotes amateur):
265 - Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 64-66-68-67.
269 - Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 68-65-65-71.
270 - Sihwan KIM (USA) 66-64-70-70, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 67-67-65-71.
271 - Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 67-66-69-69.
272 - Danthai BOONMA (THA) 65-72-69-66, Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 66-70-69-67, Sadom KAEWKANJANA (am, THA) 70-64-66-72, Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 66-71-63-72.
273 - Johannes VEERMAN (USA) 71-69-67-66, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 69-69-67-68, Tanapat PICHAIKOOL (am, THA) 68-68-68-69.
274 - Chaiphat KOONMARK (THA) 69-67-72-66, Javi COLOMO (ESP) 69-70-67-68, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 71-65-70-68, Khalin JOSHI (IND) 69-70-67-68, Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 66-70-69-69, Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 63-70-69-72.
275 - Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 69-68-67-71, Dino A. GIACOMAZZI (USA) 66-68-69-72.
276 - Chikkarangappa S. (IND) 70-68-70-68, Berry HENSON (USA) 71-65-71-69, Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS) 72-67-67-70, WANG Wei-lun (TPE) 68-67-70-71, Jarin TODD (USA) 68-68-69-71, Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) 67-70-68-71, Paul PETERSON (USA) 65-72-68-71, Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 71-65-68-72, Rashid KHAN (IND) 69-67-68-72.
